Insurance Blog

Understanding Auto Insurance Endorsements

What are auto endorsements?

Think of auto insurance endorsements as “added options” to your auto policy. Just like you can customize your vehicle, endorsements allow you to customize your coverage. Sometimes endorsements are as simple as an address or name change or when you want to add coverage to your current policy.

“An endorsement is also a good way to add extra coverage to your policy without having to purchase an entirely new one,” explains Bob Buckel, vice president of Auto Product at Erie Insurance. Your ERIE agent can walk you through your policy and let you know which endorsements you currently have on your policy and if there are any additional endorsements that make sense to add.

Here are a few popular choices.

4 Common Auto Insurance Endorsements

• Relax, you're getting a rental: ERIE offers Transportation Expense coverage^[1] for customers who don’t have access to their vehicle for a particular time period due to a covered accident or other covered loss. Basic rental car coverage for a compact car due to a covered comprehensive coverage loss is automatically included in your auto policy in most states if you’ve purchased comprehensive coverage. 
  
  However, if you need a larger vehicle or Transportation Expense coverage for a collision loss, there are options to buy additional coverage (You can choose from six different classes of vehicle rentals, each with a corresponding premium rate).
  
  You can also purchase ERIE’s Roadside & Rentals bundle, which has options to include Roadside Service coverage^[2] along with Transportation Expense coverage.

• Secure your rate: With ERIE Rate Lock®, you can pay the same premium year after year. Even if you have a claim, your rates won’t change until you make certain changes to your auto insurance policy, such as adding or removing a vehicle or driver from your policy or changing your primary residence.^[3]
• Poof: Gone! The ERIE Auto Plus® endorsement includes Diminishing Deductible and extends limits to the basic auto policy. For a few extra dollars a month, you can cover all of the vehicles listed on your policy with higher limits for many of our “Xtra Protection Features.” And for each consecutive claims-free policy year (beginning when this endorsement is added), the deductible amount will be reduced by $100 up to a maximum reduction of $500. It also includes a $10,000 death benefit.^[4]
• True Blue Replacement: ERIE’s Auto Security coverage endorsement^[5] offers customers the opportunity to replace a totaled vehicle without worry of depreciation. If your new car is less than two years old and it gets totaled, ERIE will reimburse you the cost to replace it with a vehicle of the newest model year. And if your car is more than two years old, ERIE will pay the cost to replace it with another vehicle of the same model up to two years newer with similar mileage.

When it comes to your auto insurance, you’ve got a lot of choices. When you choose ERIE, you can feel confident about your coverage. Why? Because every policy comes with a local insurance agent to help you understand how your policy works, what it can help protect, and how to customize it based on your needs (and budget).

Learn more about auto insurance or find a local ERIE agent near you.

Posted on 30 September 2026 | 5:00 pm

Am I Covered When I Lend My Car to Friends or Family?

If you own a car, chances are you’ve let a friend or family member borrow it at one time or another.

But did you know that in the event of an accident it’s your auto insurance policy that typically would have to pay?

“One of the biggest misconceptions about loaning out your vehicle is that if you let someone who’s not on your policy borrow your car, an accident should go on their insurance because they were the one driving,” explains Bob Buckel, vice president of Auto Product at Erie Insurance. “But in private passenger auto insurance, the coverage typically follows the vehicle, not the driver.”

Let’s break it down.

Does my car insurance cover other drivers?

If someone else is regularly driving your car, it’s important to let your agent know. If you’re an ERIE customer, insured drivers include: 

• Resident relatives: Most ERIE personal auto policies provide coverage to the named insured, their spouse and any other resident relatives. So, if someone is a member of your family, lives in your home and is listed as such on your policy, they’re automatically an insured under your policy unless the person has been specifically excluded on your policy.
• Domestic partners: If someone lives with you but isn’t a relative, they are not named insureds under your policy. However, if you’re living with a domestic partner, they can be added to your policy as a named insured but only if your relationship is the long-term, committed type – you share domestic responsibilities and have joint financial obligations. All you have to do is call your agent and let them know. They’ll send out a short driver questionnaire and check your partner’s driving record to determine eligibility.
• Someone with permissive use: If you loaned out your car to a friend or neighbor, your ERIE policy generally will cover them – as long as you gave your permission. If they are a regular and repeated user of the car, they should also have coverage. The only exception is if a driver has been specifically excluded on your policy.

A quick note on exclusions: Depending on the state you live in, you may or may not be able to exclude a driver from your policy. Other states may allow you to exclude a driver, but with certain restrictions. Your local ERIE agent can explain how things work in your state.

Chances are, anyone you let borrow your car will fall into one of these three categories. But just because someone is covered doesn’t mean loaning your car is risk-free. 

Loaning your car: consider the pros and cons

Here’s the good news: If the driver falls into one of the three categories above, and the loss is covered under the terms of your policy, your insurance can help– even if you weren’t the one driving. 

But here’s the tricky part: Depending on the situation – and the specifics of your policy – you might get stuck paying a surcharge on your auto insurance premium, even if you weren’t the one driving at the time. (Every policy is different, so ask your ERIE agent if this applies to you.)

Many people don’t think about these ‘what if’ scenarios before lending their car.

When you loan someone your car, you’re putting your name out there as a responsible party. You’ll be protected within the limits of your auto policy, but there’s always a chance of something happening that exceeds those limits.

For instance, if your friend or neighbor runs a stop sign and causes significant injuries and property damage, you could be responsible for paying any amounts owed above the limits on your policy. That means you could be sued for the driver’s negligent actions because they were using your vehicle. Liability in these situations varies by state, so check with your ERIE agent if you have specific questions.

And then there’s the question of what actually constitutes “permissive use.” For example, maybe your daughter goes off to college and lets her friend borrow a car that’s in your name – but you, as the named insured, didn’t give permission. Is her accident covered? The answer could vary based on case law in each state.

If you do have to file a claim, rest easy. Your ERIE agent can help you understand the ins and outs of your policy, and our award-winning claims service gives you prompt and personal attention to get back to normal. 

So, here’s the moral of the story: Always make sure you understand your liability before loaning out a vehicle. And if you have any questions, your best course of action is to talk to your local ERIE agent. They’re your trusted insurance advisor and are always ready to help you get the coverage – and personal attention – you deserve.

Posted on 30 September 2026 | 5:00 pm

The Insurance Checklist for Life's Biggest Moments

Major life changes often bring new responsibilities — and new things to protect.

Posted on 21 September 2026 | 5:00 pm

15 Common Life Insurance Questions, Answered

Posted on 20 September 2026 | 5:00 pm

What to Know About Term vs. Whole Life Insurance

Life is always changing – which is why it’s important to review your insurance needs and make sure your coverage is keeping up with your life. Whether you’re entering adulthood or nearing retirement, you may have a need for life insurance… but understanding which policy is best for you can be confusing. Let’s talk term and whole life insurance to help you find which benefits you the most, at any stage of life.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance provides coverage for a specific number of years and you select the “term”. It’s an easy, more affordable option if you’re not looking for lifelong coverage. But, if you should change your mind, during your policy term you usually have the option to renew it or perhaps convert it into a permanent life plan.

At Erie Insurance, we offer two term life insurance plans including an easy-to-purchase option and guaranteed level term insurance. An ERIE agent can help you decide which option is best for your situation.

Some general things to know about term life insurance:

• You have the option of choosing how long and how much
• Plans usually come in 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 30- or 40-year packages
• It is often more affordable than other life insurance options
• Some policies come with an option to convert to permanent
• It only pays if you perish during the period of the policy

When would I need term life insurance?

In your 20s: There are reasons to consider life insurance protection at a young age. Your rates will be less expensive because insurers price policies based on risk and young people have a far lower mortality rate than older groups. College and credit card debt could be one expense you want to cover. According to Debt.org, the average student debt is over $37,000.  A term policy can help relieve the burden of college loan payments away from your co-signer or family.

In your 30s and 40s: A new house, spouse and growing family are just a few reasons to consider a term life policy. While the best approach is often a blend of term and whole life insurance - that provides lifelong coverage and builds cash value – term policies can help cover the basic expenses if the unexpected does occur.

Whether you’re a fresh-out-of-college grad, a homeowner, newly married or just had your first child, here are a few reasons why you might need a term life policy:

• Funeral costs - From funeral planning to cemetery arrangements and proper permits, a funeral can cost up to $7,848. A term life insurance plan helps cover those costs so your family and loved ones don’t have to.
• Income protection - Consider how much money your family would need without your paycheck in the picture. A term policy can help cover rent, utilities, groceries, car payments or childcare expenses so your family can maintain their lifestyle to the comfort they are used to.
• Mortgage protection – Having life insurance in place can allow your family’s story to continue in the home they know and love.
• Child starter plan - Purchasing life insurance when your children are young means they’ll be able to have life insurance when they need it most – even if there are health problems that run in your family. Once in place, their rate won’t go up and they’ll also have the option to exchange their term policy into a permanent cash value policy later in life.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole Life Insurance, also called permanent life insurance, is designed to last your lifetime. That means your family and beneficiaries are covered for the duration of your life.^[1] In addition to providing financial protection, whole life policies build cash value which allows you an opportunity to build your wealth.

Some things to know about whole life insurance:

• Provides coverage for your entire life
• Accumulates cash value
• Premiums and coverage are guaranteed to remain the same for your lifetime

When would I need whole life insurance?

In your 30s and 40s: While a term life plan can be a great place to start for life insurance protection, the best approach is often a blend of term and permanent life insurance that provides lifelong coverage and builds cash value. Whole life insurance can be used to cover the same expenses as term – like funeral costs, income replacement and mortgage protection, for example. Your ERIE agent can guide you in deciding when to choose whole life instead of term and how much to purchase.

50s and up: At this stage of life, you may have entered the “sandwich generation” meaning you might care for elderly parents while financially supporting college students or young-adult children. Inadequate protection could put both groups of family members at risk. At the same time, retirement savings might not stretch as far as expected after factoring in taxes, inflation and less-than-stellar investment returns. With a whole life policy you can borrow against your policy cash value as well as use it to supplement your income during your retirement years. Talk to an Erie Insurance agent about how whole life fits into your overall financial plan. 

No better time than now

Learn more about the life coverage that fits best with your life by talking with a professional, like an Erie Insurance agent. Together you can find the policy that provides peace of mind and the perfect protection for you, and your family. 

Posted on 17 September 2026 | 5:00 pm